Anne Arundel County Police Focus on Internal Affairs Accountability

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Anne Arundel County officials say county police are focusing on creating greater accountability for internal investigations.

County Executive Laura Neuman said Monday the lack of accountability in internal affairs was a key finding in a task force report on wrongdoing in the department under former County Executive John Leopold. Leopold resigned in February after being convicted of misconduct in office, partly for using county police for campaign activities like posting and distributing campaign signs. He also used his police security detail to investigate political opponents.

"If internal affairs is working well, we wouldn't have been through this dark history we've been through," Neuman said at a news conference in Annapolis. "It will work well going forward."

The report also noted that the department is in need of steady leadership. Neuman said she's confident the hiring of new Police Chief Kevin Davis will provide that leadership.

Neuman created the task force in April, saying she had received dozens of complaints.Former Baltimore Police Commissioner Frederick H. Bealefeld III led the task force.

Leopold was also convicted of using police officers to bring him to public places where he engaged in sexual encounters with a female county employee.